US20050075564A1 - Method and system configured for counting surgical articles - Google Patents
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- US20050075564A1 US20050075564A1 US10/955,058 US95505804A US2005075564A1 US 20050075564 A1 US20050075564 A1 US 20050075564A1 US 95505804 A US95505804 A US 95505804A US 2005075564 A1 US2005075564 A1 US 2005075564A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
- G01G23/18—Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
- G01G23/36—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
- G01G23/37—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting
- G01G23/3728—Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells involving digital counting with wireless means
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B50/00—Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers
- A61B50/30—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
- A61B50/36—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles
- A61B50/37—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G17/00—Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
- G01G19/40—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight
- G01G19/42—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight for counting by weighing
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B50/00—Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers
- A61B50/30—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
- A61B50/36—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles
- A61B50/37—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels
- A61B2050/375—Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for collecting or disposing of used articles for absorbent articles, e.g. bandages, garments, swabs or towels for sponges
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
- A61B90/08—Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
- A61B2090/0804—Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors
- A61B2090/0805—Counting number of instruments used; Instrument detectors automatically, e.g. by means of magnetic, optical or photoelectric detectors
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- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods are provided that employs a “radiopaque” object to count and account for surgical sponges in an operating room. A radiopaque object is attached to surgical sponges so that a scanning device can detect and count a collection of the sponges following use in a surgical procedure. Such apparatuses and methods enable surgical team personnel to insure that no surgical sponge is left in a patient without performing the messy and time-consuming job of individually counting sponges as they are entered and disposed of from the surgical site.
Description
- This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/124,534, filed on Apr. 17, 2002, entitled “System and Method of Tracking Surgical Sponges” and having a common applicant herewith.
- The invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for tracking surgical supplies and, more specifically, to facilitating counting of articles capable of absorbing fluids within a body and packing internal bodily structures.
- During surgical procedures, articles such as absorbent sponges are employed to soak up blood and other fluids in and around an incision site. In a study entitled “The Retained Surgical Sponge” (Kaiser, et al., The Retained Surgical Sponge, Annals of Surgery, vol. 224, No. 1, pp. 79-84), surgical sponges were found to have been left inside a patient following surgery in 67 of 9729 (0.7%) medical malpractice insurance claims reviewed. In those 67 cases, the mistake was attributed to an incorrect sponge count in seventy-six percent (76%) of the cases studied, and attributed to the fact that no count was performed in ten percent (10%) of the cases studied. Typically, a sponge left inside a patient is presumed to indicate that substandard and negligent care has taken place. Clearly, it is in both a patient's and the health care providers' best interest to account for every surgical sponge used in any particular surgical procedure.
- As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,001 entitled Automatic Surgical Sponge Counter and Blood Loss Determination System, sponge counts are an essential step in operating room procedure. Sponge counts are a difficult procedure for a number of reasons. For example, the handling of soiled sponges carries the risk of transmission of blood borne diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therefore, used sponges are handled with gloves and/or instruments and the handling is kept to a minimum. Another difficulty is that the counting process is typically tedious, time-consuming and frustrating.
- Sponge counts are typically performed multiple times during a surgical procedure, both at the beginning and throughout the procedure as sponges are added, before closure of a deep incision or body cavity, and during personnel breaks and shift changes. Thus, within all the activity of an operating room, maintaining an accurate sponge is difficult, as evidenced by the error rate mentioned in the Keiter article, quoted above.
- There do exist products to make the procedure both simpler and more reliable. For example, various systems facilitate the hand-counting of surgical sponges by arranging the sponges into visually inspectible groups or arrangements (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,390, #4,364,490, #4,784,267, #4,832,198, #4,925,048 and #5,658,077). These systems are problematic because surgeons and anesthesiologists often determine blood loss by means of visual inspection or a manual weighing of soiled sponges and so soiled sponges are typically kept in one area of an operating room during a surgical procedure, thus creating the possibility that groupings are co-mingled or counted twice. In addition, operating room workers are often too rushed, fatigued and/or distracted to accurately count a large number of soiled sponges lumped together in one or more groups. This method also depends upon the accuracy of an initial count and, if the number of sponges in the original package is mislabeled by the manufacturer, then a missing sponge may be missed during a final count.
- A second solution to the surgical sponge tracking problem is the inclusion of a radiopaque thread in the sponges. A radiopaque thread can be identified and located if a sponge is accidentally left inside a patient. Thus, if a patient develops a problem such as an abscess, a bowel obstruction, or internal pain at any time following an operation, a sponge that has been left in the body can be detected by x-ray. Companies that market sponges with radiopaque threads include Johnson & Johnson, Inc. of New Brunswick, N.J., Medline Industries of Mundelein, Ill. and the Kendall Company of Mansfield, Mass.
- A third solution to the sponge problem is the inclusion of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in each sponge (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,001). The RFID tag enables a patient to be scanned to detect the presence of a sponge within a body cavity, but RFID tags may cost several times what a typical surgical sponge costs and are also bulky, impairing the usefulness of the sponge.
- Another solution to the sponge problem is a device that counts sponges as they are dropped, one-by-one, into an opening, or “entry gate,” of the device (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,498). This solution is restricted by the accuracy of the original count and the precision of operating room assistants as they separate sponges from one another and drop them into the entry gate, one-by-one.
- A final, exemplary solution involves attaching a magnetic resonance device, or marker tag, to each sponge, which are then scanned by appropriate equipment (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,095 and #5,664,582). The problem with this solution is that both the marker tags and the scanning equipment are expensive and do not necessarily work well in an operating room environment. As acknowledged in the '582 patent, the scanner must be essentially parallel to the marker tag inside a wadded up sponge. If the marker tag is bent or folded, a signal from the tag may be difficult to identify. In addition, the scanning equipment may give false counts if the operating room contains objects, other than the marker, that also generate or respond to magnetic energy.
- Many other problems and disadvantages of the prior art will become apparent to one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with the present invention as described herein.
- Embodiments of apparatuses and methods in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein employ one or more “radiopaque” objects to facilitate counting and/or accounting for articles capable of absorbing fluids within a body and/or packing internal body structures in an operating room. Such articles are generally referred to herein as surgical sponges. The term “radiopaque” refers to an object that is detectable by a scanning device using an x-ray or other penetrating wave or particle such as neutron beams or gamma rays, and infrared, near-infrared, laser, electromagnetic or radio waves. Within the context of the claimed subject matter, a “surgical sponge” is any device or material used in human or animal surgery for the purpose of absorbing blood or other fluids, or for packing, packing off, containing, or isolating (i.e., packing) internal bodily structures within a surgical field.
- A radiopaque object is attached to each surgical sponge so that a scanning device can detect and count a large number of the sponges within a container designed to eliminate the need for contact by humans with the sponges. In this manner, a surgical team can insure that no surgical sponge is left in a patient without performing the messy and time-consuming job of individually counting sponges as they are entered and removed from the surgical site.
- The claimed subject matter includes specially designed surgical sponges for use with the scanning device. Also included in the claimed subject matter is the use of radiopaque objects of differing configurations (e.g., sizes and/or types) attached to (e.g., embedded in) surgical sponges of differing configurations (e.g., sizes and/or types). For example, a large sponge may contain a large object and a small sponge may contain a small object so that the scanning device can distinguish and count multiple sizes and types of sponges. In one embodiment of the invention, the scanning device also weighs discarded surgical sponges so that a calculation can be made of the sponges' retained fluids, i.e. patient fluid loss.
- Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
- While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention.
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FIG. 1 is an exemplary surgical supply tracking system (SSTS) employing the techniques of the claimed subject matter. -
FIG. 2 is an exemplary PC-based SSTS employing the techniques of the claimed subject matter. -
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a surgical sponge in relation to a radiopaque object according to the claimed subject matter. -
FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary surgical sponge in which the radiopaque object is woven or glued into the surgical sponge. -
FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary surgical sponge in which the radiopaque object is affixed to the surgical sponge by means of a fixture patch. -
FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary surgical sponge in which the radiopaque object is affixed to the surgical sponge by means of a fixture thread. -
FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary surgical sponge in which the radiopaque object is affixed to the surgical sponge by means of both a fixture patch and a fixture thread. -
FIG. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates the processing performed by the SSTS. -
FIG. 9 is a flow chart that illustrates a method configured for enabling system-assisted counting and, optionally, system-performed counting of surgical sponges, wherein the method and surgical sponges employ techniques of the claimed subject matter. - Although described with particular reference to a system for tracking surgical supplies within an operating room, the surgical supply tracking system (SSTS) of the disclosed subject matter can be implemented in any system in which it is desirable to count and/or track objects with a minimum of handling and a very high degree of accuracy.
- Selected portions of the SSTS can be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. Hardware portions of the invention can be implemented using specialized hardware logic. Software portions can be stored in a memory and executed by a suitable computing system such as a microprocessor or a personal computer (PC). Furthermore, software of the SSTS, which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with the computing system.
- Turning now to the figures,
FIG. 1 illustrates anexemplary SSTS 100 for use in an operating room. Asponge container 101 includes a disposal opening 105 through which surgical sponges, such as asurgical sponge 111, are placed after use. For the purposes of this disclosure, a “surgical sponge” is any device or material used in either human or animal surgery for the purpose of absorbing blood or fluids, or for packing, packing off, containing, or isolating internal bodily structures within a surgical field. Thesponge container 101 includesrollers 115 to facilitate its movement within and outside the operating room. By pressing afoot pedal 109, a user of theSSTS 100 opens a door (not shown) in the disposal opening 105 so that the usedsurgical sponge 111 can be placed into thesponge container 101. In addition, the pressing of thefoot pedal 109 causes hardware and/or software logic (not shown) in theSSTS 100 to activate aradiation source 103. The hardware and/or software logic, with input from a sensor (not shown), then calculates the number of sponges in thesponge container 101. Once the hardware and/or software logic has calculated the number of sponges in thesponge container 101, this number is displayed on adisplay 107. It should be apparent to those with skill in the electronic arts that the hardware and/or software logic of theSSTS 100 can be implemented in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, specialized circuits incorporating both hardware and software components. - The
sponge container 101 also includes a clear plastic covering (not shown) such as a plastic bag or a form-fitted covering that fits into the disposal opening 105, thus containing thesurgical sponges 111, and drapes over the outside of thecontainer 101 in order to keep fluids from thesurgical sponges 111 from contaminating the surface of thecontainer 101 and its components. In addition to the number of sponges in thecontainer 101, thedisplay 107 may also display a calculation of the weight of the contained sponges so that operating room personnel can determine patient fluid loss. A set ofuser controls 113 is employed to turn theSSTS 100 on or off, initiate thedisplay 107 and calibrate the sensors. In alternative embodiments of theSSTS 100, the calculation of the sponges in thecontainer 101 and the display of this number may also be initiated by the user controls 113 rather than, or in addition to, the depression of thefoot pedal 109. -
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary PC-basedSSTS 200 employing the techniques of the claimed subject matter. TheSSTS 200 includes asponge container 201 in which surgical sponges, such as the surgical sponge 111 (FIG. 1 ), can be disposed following the sponge's 111 use in a surgical procedure. Thecontainer 201 is positioned on aplatform 221 that is connected via aconnection 223 to aradiation source 203, which is similar to the radiation source 103 (FIG. 1 ). The platform may also include a weight sensor (not shown) for measuring the weight of thecontainer 201 and its contents. Theplatform 221 is also connected via aconnection 207 to acomputing system 209. Theconnections computing system 209 includes aprocessor 213, adisplay 215, akeyboard 217 and a mouse 219. The exact configuration of thecomputing system 209 is not critical to the spirit of the invention. For example, all or portions of thecomputing system 209 may be incorporated into theplatform 221 in order to provide a compact and integrated system with fewer discrete pieces than the illustratedsystem 200. - The
radiation source 203 emits ascanning beam 205 that enables detectors (not shown) in the platform to detect a small radiopaque object 301 (seeFIGS. 3-7 ) in eachsponge 111 in thecontainer 201. The term “radiopaque” means theobject 301 is able to obscure or block some type ofscanning beam 205 such as x-ray or other penetrating wave or particle such as neutron beams, gamma rays, infrared, near-infrared, laser, electromagnetic waves or radio waves. The specific type ofscanning beam 205 is not critical to the spirit of the inventions other than that the detectors in theplatform 201 must be able to detect thescanning beam 205 with sufficient resolution to count eachradiopaque object 301 in eachsponge 111 in thecontainer 101. As with thecomputing system 209, theradiation source 203 and the platform may be integrated into a single device, in which case theSSTS 200 would look more like the SSTS 100 (FIG. 1 ). -
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a surgical sponge 311 (FIG. 1 ) in relation to aradiopaque object 301. Thesurgical sponge 311 is one embodiment of the surgical sponge 111 (FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Thesurgical sponge 311 is comprised of anabsorbent material 307 contained withinvertical threads 303 andhorizontal threads 305. Other examples of suitable surgical sponges include foam sponges or other sponges made of non-woven, non-knitted or non-fabric material. Thesurgical sponge 311, except for theradiopaque object 301, should be familiar to those with experience with surgery and the equipment employed in surgery. Although not necessarily drawn to scale, theradiopaque object 301 is small in relation to thesurgical sponge 311. Typically, theradiopaque object 301 is less than one (1) centimeter wide in any direction. Although, theradiopaque object 301, illustrated inFIG. 3 , is a metal sphere there can be different types of radiopaque objects; i.e., many different shapes and materials can be employed. For example, theradiopaque object 301 may be cylindrical, cubic, rectangular, triangular or some other polygon, either regularly or irregularly shaped. Theradiopaque object 301 may also be some other shape such as a hexagonal nut, either with or without a hole in the middle. The objective of the shapes of a radiopaque objects in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein is that they produces predictable profiles when scanned while orientated in different positions. In this manner, such predictable profiles enable individual radiopaque objects within an image to be identified and, thereby, counted. - Different configurations (e.g., types or sizes) of radiopaque objects can be used to indicate different configurations (e.g., types or sizes) of surgical sponges. In addition, the radiopaque object may be something other than metal. For example, the
object 301 may be barium sulfate encased in a non-water-soluble material such as plastic, latex, rubber, silicone or silastic, or even encased in a tightly woven fabric. -
FIGS. 4-7 show alternative methods of affixing a radiopaque object, such as theradiopaque object 301, to a surgical sponge, such assurgical sponges FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary surgical sponge 411 with aradiopaque object 401 woven or glued into the surgical sponge 411. In other words, theradiopaque object 401 is held betweenvertical threads 403 and horizontal threads 405 by means of a second layer ofvertical threads 413 and a second layer ofhorizontal threads 415 and/or glued into the surgical sponge 411.FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary surgical sponge 511 with aradiopaque object 501 affixed by means of afixture patch 507. Thefixture patch 507 is a piece of latex, tape or fabric mesh that firmly attaches by means of sewing, gluing or weaving to theradiopaque object 501 and either or both ofthreads FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplarysurgical sponge 611 with aradiopaque object 601 affixed by means of afixture thread 607. Thefixture thread 607 can be either tied to, threaded through or clamped by theradiopaque object 601 and then woven into vertical andhorizontal threads FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplarysurgical sponge 711 with a radiopaque object 701 affixed by means of both a fixture patch 707, similar to the fixture patch 507 (FIG. 5 ) and a fixture thread 709, similar to the fixture thread 607 (FIG. 6 ). -
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of aCount Sponge method 800 executed by either theSSTS 100 ofFIG. 1 or theSSTS 200 ofFIG. 2 . Themethod 800 starts in a Begin Scan step 801 and proceeds immediately to an ActivateScan Beam step 803 in which the radiation source, such as the radiation source 103 (FIG. 1 ) or the radiation source 203 (FIG. 2 ) is activated. In theSSTS 100, theradiation source 103 is activated either by thefoot pedal 109 or the user controls 113. In theSSTS 200, theradiation source 200 is activated by thecomputing system 209, either in response to user input on thekeyboard 217 ormouse 209 or in response to a timer (not shown) that periodically updates a sponge count produced by theSSTS 200 and displayed on thedisplay 215. In another embodiment of theSSTS 200, theradiation source 203 may be activated in response to the weight sensor in theplatform 221 so that information displayed on thedisplay 215 is updated in real time. Control then proceeds to a CountRadiopaque Objects step 805. - In
step 805, a sensor detects the number of radiopaque objects such as object 301 (FIG. 3 ) in the surgical sponges such assurgical sponge 111 in thecontainer 201 by detecting the scanning beam generated by eitherradiation source computing system 209 via the connection 207 (SSTS 200), enabling the logic orcomputing system 209 to calculate the specific number of sponges in thecontainer computing system 209 processes the signal from the sensor to determine not only a count, but also a specific count for each of the different configuration (e.g., sizes or types) of sponges. - Following
step 805,method 800 proceeds to a Fluid Measurement Requestedstep 807 in which, using theSSTS 200 as an example, theSSTS 200 determines whether information on the collective weight of the sponges in thecontainer 201 is requested. If a weight measurement is not requested, then control proceeds to a Display Results step 815, in which the specific number of sponges calculated instep 805 is displayed on thedisplay 215. In an alternative embodiment, rather than using thedisplay 215, the number may simply be rendered in a display device such as a light emitting diode (LED) device on theplatform 221 itself. Of course, if theSSTS 200 does not include a weight sensor in theplatform 221, control proceeds directly fromstep 805 to step 815. If instep 807,method 800 determines that a fluid measurement step is required or requested, then control proceeds to a Weigh Container step 709, in which a weight sensor in the platform sends a signal representing the weight of thecontainer 201 and its contents via theconnection 207 to thecomputing system 209. Control then proceeds to a SubtractSponge Weight step 811 in which thecomputing system 209 employs the weight signal, in conjunction with the count signal, to calculate a tare weight for thecontainer 201 and its contents. Control then proceeds to a Calculate Fluids step 813 in which thecomputing system 209 determines, based upon the tare and the weight signal from theplatform 201, the amount of fluids that have been absorbed by the sponges in thecontainer 201. Control then proceeds to the Display Results step 815 in which both the sponge count and the fluid weight is displayed on thedisplay 215 or other display device, such as thedisplay 107 in the case of theSSTS 100. Following step 815, control proceeds to an End Scan step 817 in which processing is complete. Of course, as explained above,method 800 may execute periodically or be initiated by a user. - It is disclosed herein that a surgical supply tracking system (SSTS) in accordance with the disclosed subject matter (e.g., the
SSTS 100 depicted inFIG. 1 and/or theSSTS 200 depicted inFIG. 2 ) is advantageously configurable for enabling system-assisted counting and, optionally, system-performed counting of surgical sponges. One utility of such a SSTS is implementing system-assisted counting of displayed radiopaque objects for allowing operating room personnel to count used surgical sponges through assistance of the SSTS. Another utility of such a SSTS is verification of a system-implemented count of radiopaque objects. - In one embodiment of such a SSTS, the SSTS includes means for visually displaying detected radiopaque objects, means for manually confirming detection of displayed radiopaque objects and means for determining a number of confirmed radiopaque objects. A display (e.g., the
display 107 depicted inFIG. 1 or thedisplay 215 depicted inFIG. 2 ) is an example of the means for displaying detected radiopaque objects. A touchscreen-based response arrangement (e.g., a touchscreen panel overlying the display) and a cursor-based response arrangement (e.g., a screen coordinate selection via a user input device such as a mouse) are examples of the means for manually confirming detection of displayed radiopaque objects. Hardware and/or software logic (e.g., the hardware and/or software logic discussed in reference toFIG. 1 ) is an example of the means for determining a number of confirmed radiopaque objects. Such hardware and/or software logic are configured for carrying out respective portions of processes, methods and operations in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein. -
FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of amethod 900 configured for enabling system-assisted counting and, optionally, system-performed counting of surgical sponges. Counting functionality is dependent upon each surgical sponge having attached thereto one or more radiopaque objects in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein (i.e., radiopague objects that produce a predictable image when scanned). Such surgical sponges are sometimes referred to herein as detectable surgical sponges in reference to themethod 900. The SSTS discussed above as being configured for enabling system-assisted counting and, optionally, system-performed counting of surgical sponges is an example of an SSTS capable of carrying out themethod 900. - An
operation 902 is performed for simultaneously scanning a collection of detectable surgical sponges (e.g., sponges deposited in a sponge container of the SSTS). Scanning is performed with a beam or wave of energy that is obscured or blocked by the one or more radiopaque objects to a different degree than is material from which the surgical sponges are constructed. In this manner, imaging of the radiopaque objects is made possible. In one embodiment, scanning is preferably with an x-ray scanning beam. In other embodiments, scanning is performed with other types of penetrating waves or particles (e.g., such as neutron beams, positron beams, gamma rays, infrared, near-infrared, laser, electromagnetic waves or radio waves). The specific type of scanning beam is not critical to the spirit of the inventions other than that the detectors in the platform must be able to detect the scanning beam with sufficient resolution to enable identification of imaged radiopaque objects by the SSTS and/or a human. - After scanning the collection of surgical sponges, an
operation 904 is performed for processing a scanned image, followed by anoperation 906 for displaying the scanned image. Processing of the scanned image includes producing a displayable image of the detectable surgical sponges, which may include automated image enhancement for enabling more ready identification of the radiopaque objects within the image. Examples of such image enhancement include, but are not limited to, adjusting contrast, adjusting brightness, and adding color to an otherwise black and white image. - The options of performing system-assisted counting and performing system-performed counting of radiopaque objects are presented at
decision block 907. In response to system-assisted counting being selected, anoperation 908 is performed for activating a response means (e.g., screen coordinate based response arrangement) that is configured for enabling a user to count the radiopaque objects by selecting radiopaque objects in the displayed scanned image. With the response means activated, an operation 910 is performed for receiving user input that designates imaged radiopaque objects, followed by an operation 912 being performed for processing the user input. Examples of processing the user input include, but are not limited to, summing user inputs to generate a count, confirming user inputs, deactivating selectability of a selected radiopaque object, highlighting a selected radiopaque object, assigning a count number to a selected radiopaque object and/or displaying the count number. Once all user input has been received and processed (e.g., as confirmed by user), anoperation 914 is performed for outputting results. Examples of outputting the results of system-assisted counting include, but are not limited to, displaying a total count number, audibly outputting the total count number, outputting a visual representation, (e.g., a picture) of the scanned radiopaque objects and/or printing a report including the total count number. The operations of activating the response means, receiving user input, processing user input and outputting the results represent system-assisted counting functionality in accordance with the inventive disclosures made herein. - Optionally, at the
decision block 907, system-performed counting is implemented rather than system-assisted counting. Accordingly, anoperation 916 is carried out for performing system-performed counting. In performing system-performed counting, the SSTS determines the number of imaged radiopaque objects without manual selection of the imaged radiopaque objects by a user. Embodiments of system-performed counting are discussed in greater detail above in reference toFIGS. 1, 2 and 8. - After performing the system-performed counting, an
operation 918 is performed for outputting results of the system-performed counting. Examples of outputting the results of the system-performed counting include, but are not limited to displaying a total count number, audibly outputting the total count number, and/or printing a report including the total count number. - The option of performing system-assisted verification is presented at
decision block 919. In response to system-assisted count verification being selected, themethod 900 proceeds with performing system-assisted counting functionality. Accordingly, it will be understood that system-assisted counting verification is a sub-function of system-assisted counting. In performing system-assisted counting verification, theoperation 908 is performed for activating the response means and the operation 910 is performed for receiving user input. Examples of processing the user input generally include, but are not limited to, summing inputs to generate a count, confirming user inputs, deactivating selectability of a selected radiopaque object, highlighting a selected radiopaque object, assigning a count number to a selected radiopaque object and/or displaying the count number. Specific to performing system-assisted counting verification, examples of processing the user input include, but are not limited to, comparing a system-generated count of the radiopaque objects with a system-assisted count of the radiopaque objects. Once all user input has been received and processed (e.g., as confirmed by user), theoperation 914 is performed for outputting results. Examples of outputting the results of the system-assisted count verification include, but are not limited to, printing a visual representation of the scanned radiopaque objects, outputting count numbers and outputting acknowledgement that the system-performed count has been successfully or unsuccessfully verified. - While various embodiments of the application have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
Claims (24)
1. A method for counting surgical articles, comprising:
scanning a plurality of articles capable of at least one of absorbing fluids within a body and packing internal bodily structures, wherein said scanning produces a scanned image of said articles, wherein each one of said articles includes a radiopaque object and wherein the radiopaque object of each one of said articles is detected during said scanning and is depicted in the scanned image;
displaying the scanned image; and
receiving user input designating identification of said radiopaque objects depicted in the scanned image.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said scanning includes scanning said radiopaque objects in non-predictable positions.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the radiopaque object of each one of said articles produces predictable profiles when scanned while orientated in different positions.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
processing the scanned image prior to displaying the scanned image, wherein said processing includes enhancing an as-scanned image for enabling more ready identification of the radiopaque objects within said enhanced scanned image.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving user input includes receiving user-specified information confirming detection of a detected one of said radiopaque objects.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
processing said user input, wherein said processing includes at least one of summing user input to generate a count, confirming user input, deactivating selectability of a selected radiopaque object, highlighting the selected radiopaque object, assigning a count number to a selected radiopaque object, displaying the count number and comparing a system-generated count of said radiopaque objects with a system-assisted count of said radiopaque objects.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting at least one of a total count and acknowledgement that a system-performed count has been successfully verified, wherein said receiving user input includes receiving user-specified information for verifying a system-performed count of said radiopaque objects.
8. A method for counting surgical articles, comprising:
scanning a plurality of articles capable of at least one of absorbing fluids within a body and packing internal bodily structures, wherein said scanning produces a scanned image of said articles, wherein each one of said articles includes a radiopaque object and wherein the radiopaque object of each one of said articles is detected during said scanning and is depicted in the scanned image;
performing system-performed counting of said radiopaque objects depicted in the scanned image; and
performing system-assisted count verification of said system-performed counting after performing said system-performed counting.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said scanning includes scanning said radiopaque objects in non-predictable positions.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the radiopaque object of each one of said articles produces predictable profiles when scanned while orientated in different positions.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein:
said performing system-performed counting includes determining a number of detected radiopaque objects depicted in the scanned image without human intervention; and
said performing system-assisted count verification includes receiving user input designating identification of said radiopaque objects depicted in the scanned image.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein:
performing system-assisted count verification includes processing said user input; and
said processing includes at least one of summing user input to generate a count, confirming user inputs, deactivating selectability of a selected radiopaque object, highlighting the selected radiopaque object, assigning a count number to a selected radiopaque object, displaying the count number and comparing a system-generated count of said radiopaque objects with a system-assisted count of said radiopaque objects.
13. A system for counting surgical articles, comprising:
means for displaying detected radiopaque objects;
means for manually confirming detection of displayed radiopaque objects; and
means for determining a number of confirmed radiopaque objects.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for displaying includes a video display.
15. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for manually confirming detection of displayed radiopaque objects includes at least one of a touchscreen-based response arrangement in combination with said means for displaying and a cursor-based response arrangement providing for screen coordinate selection via a user input device.
16. The system of claim 13 wherein said means for determining the number of confirmed radiopaque objects includes at least one of hardware and software logic configured for determining the number of confirmed radiopaque objects.
17. The system of claim 13 wherein:
said means for displaying includes a video display;
said means for manually confirming detection of displayed radiopaque objects includes at least one of a touchscreen-based response arrangement in combination with said means for displaying and a cursor-based response arrangement providing for screen coordinate selection via a user input device; and
said means for determining the number of confirmed radiopaque objects includes at least one of hardware and software logic configured for determining the number of confirmed radiopaque objects.
18. A system for counting surgical articles, comprising:
at least one data processing device;
instructions processable by said at least one data processing device; and
an apparatus from which said instructions are accessible by said at least one data processing device;
wherein said instructions are configured for enabling said at least one data processing device to facilitate:
scanning a plurality of articles capable of at least one of absorbing fluids within a body and packing internal bodily structures, wherein said scanning produces a scanned image of said articles, wherein each one of said articles includes a radiopaque object and wherein the radiopaque object of each one of said articles is detected during said scanning and is depicted in the scanned image;
displaying the scanned image; and
receiving user input designating identification of said radiopaque objects depicted in the scanned image.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein said scanning includes scanning said radiopaque objects in non-predictable positions.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein the radiopaque object of each one of said articles produces predictable profiles when scanned while orientated in different positions.
21. The system of claim 18 wherein:
said instructions are configured for enabling said at least one data processing device to facilitate processing the scanned image prior to displaying the scanned image; and
wherein said processing includes enhancing an as-scanned image for enabling more ready identification of the radiopaque objects within the image.
22. The system of claim 18 wherein said receiving user input includes receiving user-specified information confirming detection of a detected one of said radiopaque objects.
22. The system of claim 18 wherein:
said instructions are configured for enabling said at least one data processing device to facilitate processing said user input; and
said processing includes at least one of summing user input to generate a count, confirming user inputs, deactivating selectability of a selected radiopaque object, highlighting the selected radiopaque object, assigning a count number to a selected radiopaque object, displaying the count number and comparing a system-generated count of said radiopaque objects with a system-assisted count of said radiopaque objects.
23. The system of claim 18 wherein:
instructions are configured for enabling said at least one data processing device to facilitate outputting at least one of a total count and acknowledgement that a system-performed count has been successfully verified; and
said receiving user input includes receiving user-specified information for verifying a system-performed count of said radiopaque objects.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/955,058 US20050075564A1 (en) | 2002-04-17 | 2004-09-30 | Method and system configured for counting surgical articles |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/124,534 US6777623B2 (en) | 2002-04-17 | 2002-04-17 | System and method of tracking surgical sponges |
US10/955,058 US20050075564A1 (en) | 2002-04-17 | 2004-09-30 | Method and system configured for counting surgical articles |
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US10/124,534 Continuation-In-Part US6777623B2 (en) | 2002-04-17 | 2002-04-17 | System and method of tracking surgical sponges |
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US20050075564A1 true US20050075564A1 (en) | 2005-04-07 |
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US10/955,058 Abandoned US20050075564A1 (en) | 2002-04-17 | 2004-09-30 | Method and system configured for counting surgical articles |
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